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A good sword and a trusty hand, a merry heart and true,
King James' men shall understand what Cornishmen can do;
And have they fixed the where and when, and shall Trelawney die,
Here's twenty thousand Cornishmen will know the reason why.
And shall Trelawney live and shall Trelawney die,
Here's twenty thousand Cornishmen will know the reason why.
Out spake their captain brave and bold, a merry white was he,
If London Tower is Michael's hold, we'll set Trelawney free;
We'll cross the Tamar land to land, the Severn is no stay,
With one and all and hand in hand, and who shall bid us nay.
And shall Trelawney live and shall Trelawney die,
Here's twenty thousand Cornishmen will know the reason why.
And when we come to London Wall, a pleasant site to view,
Come forth, come forth, ye cowards all, here's men as good as you;
Trelawney, he's in keep and hold, Trelawney, he may die,
But twenty thousand Cornish bold will know the reason why.
And shall Trelawney live and shall Trelawney die,
Here's twenty thousand Cornishmen will know the reason why.
Known as the unofficial Cornish National Anthem, this song is always heard at Cornish rugby matches and similar civic gatherings.
Notes: Jonathan Trelawny (1650-1721) was one of seven bishops imprisoned in the Tower of London by James II in 1688. Born at Pelynt into an old Cornish family, his father, the 2nd Baronet of Trelawne, was a supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
